Four Pilots named to Coastal Plain League All-Star roster

HAMPTON — Four Peninsula Pilots players were selected to participate in the Coastal Plain League All-Star Game on Monday at War Memorial Stadium.

Catcher Scott Burkett of Longwood and third baseman Jordan Negrini of Old Dominion were named starters for the All-Stars' East Division.

Burkett is batting .288 for the Pilots this season, with a home run and eight RBI, while recording only one error in 22 appearances behind the plate. Negrini leads the Pilots with 21 hits, is second on the team with 10 RBI and is batting .318 this season.

Richmond's Ryan Cook and Georgia Tech's Josh Heddinger will be available in the bullpen for the East Division. Cook has become a reliable closer for the Pilots, recording four saves and a win in 10 appearances, and striking out 15 batters in 13 innings with a 1.38 ERA. Heddinger posted a 1-0 record in four appearances on the mound, with 15 strikeouts and a 5.40 ERA in 16 2/3 innings.

"I'm really proud of the four guys that we had selected, and I think that all four of them are very deserving," Pilots coach Hank Morgan said. "The all-star game is going to be a great opportunity for them to play in front of 25-30 scouts against some top-level competition."

Morgan will join his players in the East dugout as an assistant to Edenton Steamers' head coach Bryan Hill.

Morgan said that he was disappointed that other Pilots players were not considered for the rosters, calling Josh Silver the "best defensive shortstop in the league" and noting Brandon Vick's 1.00 ERA in five appearances, but understood that not all of his players could be selected.

The four Pilots will join players from across the East Division on the 27-man roster. All-stars were selected by head coaches, team broadcasters and media representatives from each of the 14 CPL teams.

War Memorial Stadium will host an All-Star Hitting Challenge at 6:30 p.m. Sunday and the CPL All-Star game at 7:05 p.m. Monday. It is the first time the Pilots have hosted CPL All-Star festivities.

The Pilots are heading into all-star weekend on a hot streak, winning 11 of their past 16 games overall.